Draft-gear.



c. s. 001mm. DRAFT GEAR.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE B, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5-, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

flzzeaaes Q 22 1/2/21??- W @421? G. S. CORNING.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNB8,1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- G. S. OORNING.

V DRAFT GEAR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1909.

Patented Apr.5, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patentd Apr. 5,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 G. S. UORNING.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLIOATIOE FILED JUNE 8, 1909.

UNITED STATES CHARLES s. GORNING, or csncaoo, rumors.

DRAFT- EAR.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. Comvnvc,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Draft-Gears, of which the fol owing, taken in connection with the drawings, is a descri tion. i he primary object of my invention is to provide a friction draft gear for .railway cars, one adapted to be arranged wlthin the space between the center sills of the ordinary car'underframe in such a manner that the parts are all readily accessible'for inspection, renewal or adjustment as required.

A further object of my invention is to pro-.

- vide a friction draft gear having the friction elements so arranged that they engage each' other and are supported by a bolt or rod passing perpendicularly through the center members on y, which bolt, in conneotionwith thesprin holdsthe friction elements together an carries them in proper'pos ition as well as kee in the members through which it passes in line with each other; thus doing away entirely with barrels, casings, pocketed follower plates or other form of container. v

Another object of wide the resistance'offered by the device to the blows of service between two sets of friction surfaces having different angles or itches, whereby th ebeginnin of the drawbar movemcnt,'"on either prill or buff, is

a ainst friction surfaces of easy angle orpitch, while, theplatter part of the drawbar movement is agan t friction surfaces having harder or more abrupt angles, thus pro-v v1 1 bearing against the follower plates as the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 8, 1909. Serial No. 500,975.

my invention is to di-' Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

draw bar movement progresses and the strain increases.

Another. object of my invention is to so construct the friction elements in a friction draft gear that the will form a rigid section subject to crus ing strains only at the completion of the drawbar movement -in either direction.

Other-objects of my invention and advantages of construction will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims. 1

In the drawings,Figure1 is a plan view of my friction draft gear with the draw bar and sills broken away; Fig. 2 is a sectional "VI-LBW taken on line'2-2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a "like view taken on line3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4

is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;"Fig. 5 is a plan view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; 6 and 7 are respectively a plan and an end vic w of one of the follower plates; Fig. 8 is a sectional view throu h the friction members usho'winga modifi ed form of engagement; Fig. 9 is .a transverse sectional view illustrating the 'manner of carrying the follower-plates upon the links; Fig. 10 1s a sectional view ofthe fmction members showing their position when the drawbar has moved one and one half inches -in either direction; 'Fig. 11 is a" sectional view of the friction members show ing their position at the completion of the drawbar movement; Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively side and end views of the links as shown at C", C; Fig. 14 is aside View of another form of link; Figs, 15 and 16 are j.

respectivelyend and fnont views of the draft lugs as shown at B; Figs. 17 and 18 are re. speetively top and end views of one of the keys;

A3 represent the longitudinal center sills of the car frame, which may be of the usual construction, having the tie stra s a, a, riveted or bolted to the bottom thereo O posite slots are provided in these si ls through which pass the transversely extend ing-keys a, a

AT is the drawbar having a slot through which the forward key a passes, as shown in Figs; 1 'and 2.

Draft lugs or stationary abutmcnts B, BY, Byare preferably riveted to the center sills in front of, between ,and" backipf the fola impinge as will be described in the operation projecting.

*low'erplatesl These draft lugs are of new and noveldesign forthis urp osefhaving inwardly projecting arms w ic follower plates above and below t 'evlinks forming in connectionwithfthe recessesfiri each en of each follower plate, rectilinear 'oplenin 5' through which the links pass.

ese raft lugs are the stops-or stationary abutments against which the followerp'lates of the device. The inwardly.

arms of the front-pair of draft ugs B at each end of the car are sheared-or shaped as shown on the lan view, Fig. 1, in order to allow the coup er head limited lateral movement without the shank of the draw'bar im-- pinging a ainstthe draft lugs and thus creating a si e strain on the car structure The front lugs B, arealso provided with slotsthrough which the forward key passes, said slots eing coincident .withthe slots in the car sills. The draft lugs B which, are preferably fiv'etedto the center sills between the follower plates, act as stationary abutments against which the rear follower C abuts on the forward movement of the fdrawbar and against which the front follower G abuts on the rearward movement of the drawbai. The inwardly projecting arms of these draft lugs act as stops to the lateral movement of the friction members as will be seen by ref- 1 erence to Fig. 5., Thefunction of the draft lugs B which are riveted -'to the car channels back of the rear follower plate is to form a stationary abutment for the rear follower plate C They' are rovided with slots through which the rear ey, a, asses, the slots being coincident with the s ots in the center sills.

Extending longitudinally of the center sills and upon the inside thereof are the links C C, each of which has two elongated openings through which pass the keys a, a. At the front and rear .o the friction members is a follower plate G, C. These follower plates have a recess 0, c, at each end through which said links C", C, are carried upon the keys a, a without interfering with the bearing of the follower plates against the draft lugs. v Extending preferably across the center of each follower plate is a rib c, 0 which has a twofold urpose; first to provide a surface which wi engage the grooves in the end friction members and form a carrying sup rt; and second, to stiffen the follower p ates and give them additional strength to prevent bendin Arran ed in 'the rectangular's ace ormed by the SlllS A A, and the fol ower plates C, C arethe friction blocks comprising the end members D, d,-the intermediate members D, (l', and, the center members D D These members are preferably provided with tongues and grooves as shown in Flg.

\ en agethe ment the tongues are in contactwith the 'metal at'the'endslof the grooves in which' they move. The tongues on the intermediate members which work in the grooves in the center members also-zact onlthe release as will be described in another para raph. I cont emplatealso the useof'opposite y facing shoulders upon thesedifierent members instead of tongues-and grooves. The tongues and grooves between the intermediate and and members arenot essential tothe successful working of. the device and are used more as a means of keeping themembers in line than as a means 0 arresting the movement of these members." Ea'chof the end friction members D d, is provided 'witha groove or depression l1, L, across the surface which is in bearing against the follower plate, and into this groove fits the convex side of a rib c or c,upon the follower late 0 or C, forming a carrying sup ort or the end friction members; This f drm of construction I consider to be new with me regardless of the disposition of the remaining elements of the gear. As will be observed the angles of the impinging friction surfaces ofthese different members bear such relation tooneanother that the center members D,- D 'a're moved along the 'impingin friction surfaces of the intermediate mem ers, D7, d, only: after the end members D, d, have been forced 2 which are so spaced with res ect to one an a other that zit the end of the rawbar movein between the intermediate members to thirlimit of friction movement. .Fig, 10 shows the position of the friction members at this point. thus divided between two sets of friction surfaces,- one set having different angles or pitches than the other; and provides a, comparative sli ht resistance for approximately "the first ha f of the drawbar traveland a much greater resistance for approximately the last half of'the drawbar travel; the latter part of the drawbar movement being against friction surfaces having more abrupt angles than is the case with the first part of the drawbar movement.

--In the construction" above described the weight of the front end of the friction members is carried b the rib on the followei plate C fitting into the groove L in the front member D,- the follower plate being supported by the tie strap a which is riveted or bolted tothe center sills of the car and the front follower slides across this tie strap. The weight of the rear end of the friction members is carried by the rib on the follower plate C fitting into the groove L on the rear friction member d, the follower plate, (2 being supported by and sliding on the rear tie strap a. The rear key a fits into the groove, 0, on the rear follower plate C Passing vertically through the center of The frictional resistancefis Ill the center friction members, D 3, 1)", isalrod or bolt, E, provided with aniintegrallyformed head, 6, on the top thereof. 'Near the bottom of thebolt is a, spring seet e, supported and held in H. Surrounding this spring seat e and the lower surface of the center friction member D is the compresdescribed; al frictionfmembers bein m in." tained injposition with outgpocketed ollowel container' for the friction members.

,sion spring E, the upper end of which is in bearing directly against the under si -rface of the friction member D While the lower end is in beam ng a inst the spring 'seat -T The friction inem ers are held in position by the bolt E and the compression s rings E; o and areheld in line laterally y the tongue and move engagement previously v andthe center riot-ion inem'tuzrs- D, D. In

' terlock by ton thiseonstrution I use the-sameribbed and grooved follower plates G' Gf and. the friction members all assume the Seine relative ositio'n as shown in-Fi .1 2;;butin'stea dbf 'aving. the different fnctioni'inembers -in-.

1 the centerhiem 1 D D withshou dersff which form" abntmeiits -for. .op f shouldersxf-'on theflintetm 4v F 113! In' this form of oons'tructionthefric' ti'on' members are kept in .line'qlaterall by .the"inw ardly projec'tmanns' .of the time ositely facing iate members lugs Bf-w'hic'h, in rtionfto r-theirl other innctions, not as'stlopsfl) the; lateral move- 5 mentof the friction members. The inwardly projecting erms ofv the tlrafthigs B? act as. stops to the lateral movement of'the friction members in t e formybf construe" thefl'novable parts of the device except the and the frontfriw, tion member Dr These parts remain eta-- tion 'shown'fl nd described? v y The -edvantagesoi the construction ,cw-ill beepparent to those killed if'n lthej art. "filhe accessibility of the parts, ease of in and repairs, ebsencepf pocketed follower lat sbarrels, casings or otherlfonfisibf that: form of construction alone.

do wish to be limited to. thefrlrawhar containers for the friction rate and distinct sets. of I' riot/ion" surfaces having difie'rent angles o-i' pitoh'es',idraft'lugs between the follower pl-ates'f aotin assto to the; lateral movement of the friction p-artsgribbed and grooved follower plat/12's,,

draft lugsha-ving inwardly projecting firms, i

supports for the follower and. a'nXiliar plates." V 4 Although the construction here shown is that of a carhaving a; steel or metalunder frame I do not wish to confine myself to Neither osition by the nut' 1t -E between the supports for theffoll vqnentl'y to Fig. 2. ,The

tion

arts, two sepa- 'faces between the end 1 and the intermediate friction members D, 'd', and continues: until the tongues (Z on v travel as given in another paragraph, it

is obvious the 'drewbar travel may be in friction surfaces orshot'temng them and diminishing the length of their friction surfaces, or the same result can be obtained by changingthe pitch or angles of the 'friction surfaces] In Fig. V V

w ih the ends ofthe followers. The links 5 U erecarried at each end uponthe keys a aflwhich exteinl through slotsin'thh car sills A, A fl and aresup ortedlthereby.

It w lhe noticed that in the form of constrl i ction previously described (where the follower plates are carried onth etie straps) the links would act as siipportis to the fol lower plates in case the tie straps should fail. That isto'say, should the tie straps,

- for aanyre'ason, fail to'canythe follower pla tes then the follower plates would instantly :fall into bearing on the linlvs which pass thionghthe' lece-ssesj in the follower platesand the s'ueeessful operation ofthe draft gear would not be interrupted; Thns "anew and noveljwav of providing ahirili'at'y' Owen-plates is provided. t will be hot-iced that the two and mom- D, d; move horizontally and the re- I ha ve illustrated V the follower" plates cnrried-fi pon the links Giff, which pass throug lrthe-reeess mttining friction members D"; d; I; D

move; apart vertically while moving longi-' .tudine'illyof thelcar sills. In order to dif ferentiate between the movement of the two end friction members and the movement of the remamln fr otlon members it IS proper tfo' refertoa e two'end members 1), d, as

movable horizontally {and to the members D7, d", D Di, as movable vertically.

- Inoperation I will first describet he forward pull, reference bein made most frerawba'r A being moved forward imparts movement to all of front follower. plate C tiqnary,'jthe follower-plate C" being in been ing atgainst lthedraft lugs3 B- and the front i ction member Dis in follower-plate. The first part of the moverneht is along the-impinging friction surthe end friction members D, d are at the opposite of their-grooves 1n the intertween the; end I an intermediate members "are-easier orless abrupt than are the angles oi the-impinging friction surfaces between riction members D, al

aring against the members and one. lower center friction mem-v spring has been compressedthree-quarters of an inch. Fig; 10 shows the position ofthe friction members atthis point. The

her by three'quarters 'of an inch and the Second part of the movement now begins.

the keys and The forward movement of the drawbar' being continued the center'- friction members D ,"D are forced apart vertically along the im inging friction surfaces ofthe i;

termediate friction members D, d, until the shoulders at on the center friction mem bers are in bearin against the shoulders d on the interme iate members and the tongues d on the intermediate friction mem bers meat the opposite ends of the ooves d in the center friction members. 'rigid section subject to crushingstrains only has thus been created. Fig. 11 shows the position of the friction members at the. completion of the drawbar movement. During the first part of the movement just described the drawbar moves forward one and one half inches and the springs E, e, are

compressed three quarters of an inch.- During the second tpart of the movement the drawbar moves orward one and one eighth inches and the springs are compressed one and one quarter inches; making a total drawbar travel of two and five eighths inches and a total spring compression of two inches. At the completion of the .dr-awbar movement thekeys are metal to metal a ainst the ends of the slots in the car si Ls, the front follower ,plate C is metal to metal against the front draft lugs B, and the rear follower plate C is metal to metal against the center draft lugs B. This provides four points of bearing for four points of bearing for the follower plates with a rigid metal section between the follower plates. Any additional strain will be jointly shared by the keysa, a, and the draft lugs a rigid metal section between the followers, suoh additional strain not being confined'to keys, lugs or friction members alone. The

rigid metal section is formed by the friction members actingl time. It will ndicular' faces is, k In, is, of the inter-- B, B, with the front follower plate oes. back a a inst the draft lug s B and t e rear fo ower plate C remains stationary-against therear draft lugs B and the rear key a; The

rear friction member 03 remains stationary against the rear follower plate. Any excess strain will be distributed to the various points as previously described on the ull, with the exception that the follower p ates bear against different ends of the draft lugs and the keys are in opposite ends of the slots in the car sills. When the strain is removed the center members D, D are forced toward each other by the spring pressure and move along the impingingfriction surfaces of the intermediate members D, 0?, until the tongues d on the intermediate members bear a ainst the opposite ends of the grooves d in t e center members. When this point is reached the center and intermediate members move along the im inging friction surfaces of the end members D, d, until all parts have resumed their initial position.

It will be observed that when the friction members are assembled in position they are held therein b the bolt or rod E which passes perpen icularly' through the center members only; and to remove all friction members from the positions shown in the drawings all that is necessary to be done is to remove the nut H when the s ring seat (2, s rings E, e bolt E and all friction mem ers will dro from between the sills.

When the car si ls are mentioned reference is made only to the two center sills, (otherwise known as center channels or draft sills) that run longitudinally of the car structure and between which the draft gear is disposed.

While the drawings show tongues on the intermediate members and on the end members and grooves in the intermediate and center'members, I do not wish to be limited to that form of construction alone.

Where I have used in the claims friction members between said sills and follower plates,- or any similar expression, I intend to designate the location of the friction members in the rectan lar space bounded longitudinally, or on te ends, by the follower plates, and laterally, or on the sides, by the center sills.

While I have herein shown and-particue shank of the drawbar.

The points of bearing on the buff. are the same asthoseon the pull, except that larly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not -wish to be limited to the precise details of-construction shown.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a draft gear,'the combinatiomwith the car sills, of a slotted drawbar, ke s passing through slots in said sills, the orward key passing through the drawbar, recessed follower plates between said sills, links passing through the recesses in said follower plates, and friction members between said follower plates.

2. In a draft gear, the combination, with the car sills and slotted links, of ribbed, re-

cessed follower plates, friction members, the

end friction members being supported upon the follower plates, and a bolt passing verticiilly through the center friction members on y. t

3. In a draftgear, the combination, with the car sills, of friction members movable horizontally and engaging a follower plate, friction members movable vertically and having their impinging friction surfaces at different angles from the angles of the impinging friction surfaces between the horizontally movable friction members and the vertically movable friction members, fol lower plates, a bolt passin through the center friction members on y, and a spring around said bolt.

4. In a draft gear, the combination, with the car sills, of a slotted drawbar, keys passing through slots in said sills the forward key passing through the drawbar, draft lugs having inwardly projecting arms, recessed follower plates, links carried by said keys and passing between the arms of the draft lugs and through the recesses in the follower plates, friction members movable horizontally and supported by the follower plates, friction members movable vertically, the angles of the impinging friction surfaces of the vertically movable friction members being more abrupt than the angles of the impinging friction surfaces between the horizontally and vertically movable friction members, a bolt passing vertically through the center friction members, and a spring llground said bolt beneath the friction memers.

5. In a draft gear, the combination, with the car sills, of a slotted drawbar, keys, slotted links, recessed follower plates, draft lugs having inwardly projecting arms, horizontally movable friction members having tongue and groove connection with the impinging vertically movable friction members, vertically movable friction members having tongue and groove engagement with each other upon their impinging friction surfaces, a bolt passing vertically through the center friction members, and a. spring ggound said bolt beneath the friction memrs. 6. In a draft gear, the combination, with the car sills, of transversely extending keys, slotted links carried thereon, draft lugs having inwardly rojecting arms, friction members having ifferent angles on their friction surfaces, recessed follower plates, a bolt passing vertically through the center friction members, and a'spring around said bolt beneath the under surface of the lower friction member.

7. In a. friction draft gear,'a slotted draw bar, keys, draft lugs having inwardly rojecting arms, recessed follower plates, riction members havin shoulders, d d which impinge when the rawbar has reached the limit of its travel.

8. A friction draft gear having a plurality of friction members, the center members, D D movable apart vertically along the impinging friction surfaces after the horizontally movable members have completed their friction movement.

9. A friction draftgear having two end friction members rooved transversely on the surfaces which ear against the follower plates.

10. In a friction draft gear, the combination with a slotted draw-bar, of transversely extending keys, slotted links, recessed follower plates, draft lugs having inwardly projecting arms, a sprin seat, a spring, a

olt passing vertical y tirough the spring seat the spring and the center friction members, and friction members having different angles on their friction surfaces, the center and intermediate friction members having oppositely facing shoulders d, (1 which impinge at the completion of the (llflVV-blll' movement.

11. In a friction draft gear, the combination, with a draw-bar, of a follower. vertically movable Wedge-blocks, a vertically arting spring tending to draw said wedgeblocks toward each other, and differential angle blocks inter osed between said follower and wedge-b ocks.

12. In a friction draft gear, the c0n1bination, with a draw-bar, of a follower, vcrtically movable wedge-blocks D D :1 horizontally movable wedge-block D. beating against said follower, dilierontial angle blocks interposed between the wedge-block D and wedge-blocks I) and I). and a vertically acting spring tending to hold said wedge blocks D D together.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. ORNl NG.

Witnesses:

A. A. PARKER, J. E. CHIsHoLM. 

